Archives for March 2012

Sewing Organization

March 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I have these two items sitting on my sewing table in need of help:

This item – a pencil organizer – I bought at Target and it spins around. I keep scissors and pencils in it. The only problem is that everything falls out the sides because they are open. After a year of putting up with it – I decided to oput it in the “donation” pile. Then an idea came to me and I fished it out of the donation pile. I got 3 cans and covered them with scrapbook paper. The cans fit perfectly inside each of the 3 compartments and now nothing falls out – and it is super cute!

This other drawer thing I bought at a garage sale for 50 cents. I keep my sewing machine feet, different pins, and quilting gloves in each of the drawers. I have been meaning to decorate it and today was the perfect day to do so!

Now everything looks color coordinated and happy!

Filed Under: thrifty

Spring Dining Room Table

March 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After making all the cake plates, I realized I don’t have anywhere to store them. I decided to use them in my spring table decor. I bought these tins at Target in the $ section. I searched for rabbit silhouettes on the internet and cut them on the cricut out of black vinyl. Then placed spring green silk hydrangeas in each of the tins. I love how it looks! There are 5 total.

Filed Under: easter, vinyl

Spring Dining Room Table

March 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

After making all the cake plates, I realized I don’t have anywhere to store them. I decided to use them in my spring table decor. I bought these tins at Target in the $ section. I searched for rabbit silhouettes on the internet and cut them on the cricut out of black vinyl. Then placed spring green silk hydrangeas in each of the tins. I love how it looks! There are 5 total.

Filed Under: easter, vinyl

Antique Cruet Set

March 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment


In the springtime, my children are always picking me flowers – so sweet. Usually the stems aren’t very long and there are not enough flowers for a large bouquet – I never know what to do with the little flowers. I finally solved the problem! I got out my antique cruet set. I filled each little vase with water – they are the perfect size for garden plucked flowers. Sally picked me some daisies from the yard and now I can enjoy them for several days!

Filed Under: antiques

Antique Cruet Set

March 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment


In the springtime, my children are always picking me flowers – so sweet. Usually the stems aren’t very long and there are not enough flowers for a large bouquet – I never know what to do with the little flowers. I finally solved the problem! I got out my antique cruet set. I filled each little vase with water – they are the perfect size for garden plucked flowers. Sally picked me some daisies from the yard and now I can enjoy them for several days!

Filed Under: antiques

DIY Cake Plates

March 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment


So maybe I am the last person on earth to try a “DIY Cake Plate” – but that’s ok because they are so much fun to make. I collected plates, bowls, candle holders and other odds and ends from thrift stores, garage sales, and my own garage! Here’s how you make them:

#1 – Clean all pieces (get all those impossible-to-remove labels off and any candle wax that has dripped down on candle holders). In this example I made 3 different ones.

Platter & wood candlestick


Glass plate & Ice cream sundae dish
White plate & white bowl

#2 – Mix the Epoxy. I just used a small amount at a time because it dries so fast. I love working with epoxy because it makes me feel smart – like I know all about Science!!! I used a toothpick to apply the epoxy to the base of my cake plate (the part you will attach to the plate).

#3 Center the cake plate base onto the bottom of the plate. I placed a book to add some pressure. Let dry.
#4 Paint. If you love your plate & stand color & finish then you are done. If you don’t love them (like the gold plate above) then it’s time to spray paint. I primed the entire piece with spray primer then painted my plate gloss white. If you do paint the top of the plate, I don’t suggest placing food directly on the painted surface. Use a cardboard cake board or a doily.

Here are the finished cake plates:

I also found these cute dessert plates at Home Goods in the clearance section. I epoxied cut glass candle holders to the bottom. The possibilities are endless!!!

Filed Under: crafts, DIY, garage sale, paint, remake, thrifty

DIY Cake Plates

March 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment


So maybe I am the last person on earth to try a “DIY Cake Plate” – but that’s ok because they are so much fun to make. I collected plates, bowls, candle holders and other odds and ends from thrift stores, garage sales, and my own garage! Here’s how you make them:

#1 – Clean all pieces (get all those impossible-to-remove labels off and any candle wax that has dripped down on candle holders). In this example I made 3 different ones.

Platter & wood candlestick


Glass plate & Ice cream sundae dish
White plate & white bowl

#2 – Mix the Epoxy. I just used a small amount at a time because it dries so fast. I love working with epoxy because it makes me feel smart – like I know all about Science!!! I used a toothpick to apply the epoxy to the base of my cake plate (the part you will attach to the plate).

#3 Center the cake plate base onto the bottom of the plate. I placed a book to add some pressure. Let dry.
#4 Paint. If you love your plate & stand color & finish then you are done. If you don’t love them (like the gold plate above) then it’s time to spray paint. I primed the entire piece with spray primer then painted my plate gloss white. If you do paint the top of the plate, I don’t suggest placing food directly on the painted surface. Use a cardboard cake board or a doily.

Here are the finished cake plates:

I also found these cute dessert plates at Home Goods in the clearance section. I epoxied cut glass candle holders to the bottom. The possibilities are endless!!!

Filed Under: crafts, DIY, garage sale, paint, remake, thrifty

Finally – I found something to do with this Ladder!

March 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I bought this ladder 18 years ago when we got married. I used it to hang my collection of “Boyd’s Bears”. It was really cute at the time. I have held onto it all these years – keeping it in the garage. Finally – it has a new purpose! I printed off these “Be” sayings with photos of our family:





Then I spray painted dollar store frames 5 different colors – I wanted it to feel bright and cheery – I can’t have everything painted white 🙂

I hot glued a ribbon hanger to each frame – and it’s done & hanging up. I keep looking at it because it makes me happy.

Filed Under: paint, remake

Finally – I found something to do with this Ladder!

March 5, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I bought this ladder 18 years ago when we got married. I used it to hang my collection of “Boyd’s Bears”. It was really cute at the time. I have held onto it all these years – keeping it in the garage. Finally – it has a new purpose! I printed off these “Be” sayings with photos of our family:





Then I spray painted dollar store frames 5 different colors – I wanted it to feel bright and cheery – I can’t have everything painted white 🙂

I hot glued a ribbon hanger to each frame – and it’s done & hanging up. I keep looking at it because it makes me happy.

Filed Under: paint, remake

Snappy Bag

March 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I found this tutorial for these “Snappy Bags” at Just Another Hang Up . They are the cutest things ever! And such great instructions. You use a cut up tape measure inside the bags so they “snap” together! Ella and I made 38 of them for Valentine’s Day Gifts.


Filed Under: bags, sewing, tutorial